2008 Dodge Ram 3500 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 has a complaint index of 29 and ranks 6th of 8 model years, but it carries a Caution verdict because of 9 recall campaigns, including 2 Do Not Drive airbag recalls. Steering issues make up 54% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 29/100
- #6 of 8 Ram 3500 years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 173
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 9
- 2 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 9
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 14
- Injuries
- 6
- Top issue
- Steering
Top 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Steering94 (54%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires31 (18%)
- Engine25 (14%)
- Electrical System19 (11%)
- Airbags18 (10%)
- Transmission & Powertrain10 (6%)
- Brakes7 (4%)
- Fuel System3 (2%)
- Structure & Body3 (2%)
- Visibility & Wipers3 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Steering linkage or tie rod failures cause the truck to pull left or lock up at highway speed, sometimes leading to loss of control and crashes.
- Track bar failure in the steering column has been reported at low mileage, with airbags failing to deploy in the resulting crash.
- Engine compartment fires have started near the hood while driving around 55 mph, in some cases destroying the vehicle.
- The totally integrated power module (TIPM) has caught fire and shut off the engine, steering, and brakes while driving, with the windshield washer fluid activating on its own.
- A fuel leak has led to a fire trailing behind the vehicle on the highway.
- Owners report the vehicle starting on its own with no key in the ignition and crashing into stationary objects.
2008 Dodge Ram 3500 recalls
9 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 16V352000May 24, 2016Airbags4,648,270 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2010 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2012 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2012 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2012 Chrysler 300, 2006-2012 Dodge Charger, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Chrysler is also recalling 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2009 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2009 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2009 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2009 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2009 Chrysler 300, 2006-2009 Dodge Charger, 2005-2009 Dodge Dakota and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in AZ, AR, DE, Washington D.C., IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Chrysler is recalling certain 2005-2008 RAM 2500, 2006-2008 RAM 3500, 2007-2008 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2008 Dodge Durango, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2008 Jeep Wrangler, 2008 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2008 Chrysler 300, 2006-2008 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2008 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or registered, in AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY.
Risk: These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S43. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-7700.
- NHTSA 15V313000May 26, 2015Airbags4,077,169 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the affected Raider owners. Dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began for Chrylser on June 8, 2015. The recall for Mitsubishi started on June 24, 2015. Chrysler and Dodge owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Mitsubishi owners may call 1-888-648-7820. Chrysler's number for this recall is R25. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V817 in its entirety. Vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well.
- NHTSA 13V529000Nov 6, 2013Steering271,733 vehicles
Steering:linkages:tie rod assembly
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 RAM 2500 4X4 and 3500 4X4 trucks, 2008-2012 Dodge RAM 3500 4x2 Cab Chassis, and model year 2008 Dodge RAM 1500 Mega Cab 4x4. The left tie rod assembly may break.
Risk: A failure of the tie rod assembly may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler notified owners on January 16, 2014 that dealers would inspect vehicles and replace the steering linkage assembly, if necessary. On or about February 27, 2014, Chrysler ceased its recall remedy program due to parts quality concerns, and then re-initiated it on or about April 14, 2014. In July 2015, and under a consent order with NHTSA, the company agreed to offer owners three options for remedying their vehicles: perform the original remedy, offer to repurchase the vehicle at the fair market value plus 10%, or offer an additional incentive offer towards the purchase of a new Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, or Fiat vehicle. Chrysler will notify owners of the new recall options in a letter expected to be mailed on August 31, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N49.
2008 compared with other Ram 3500 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 reliable?
- NHTSA lists 173 complaints for the 2008 Ram 3500, giving it a complaint index of 29, which ranks 6th out of 8 model years covered. Its verdict is Caution, driven mainly by recall exposure rather than complaint volume.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2008 Dodge Ram 3500?
- Steering is the top problem area, accounting for 94 of 173 complaints (54%), with a median failure mileage of 65,000 miles. Suspension, wheels, and tires make up another 18% of complaints.
- Does the 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 have a Do Not Drive recall?
- Yes. NHTSA recorded 2 Do Not Drive recalls for airbags on this year, part of 9 total recall campaigns, which is why the verdict is capped at Caution despite a moderate complaint index of 29.
- How does the 2008 Ram 3500 compare to other years?
- The 2008 model's complaint index of 29 is lower than 2011 (86) and 2012 (100), both rated Avoid, but its 9 recall campaigns and 2 Do Not Drive recalls push its verdict to Caution.